Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-12-29


strong VIII and strong intellect. An only
child and the owner OF enormous property,
she was the target for the fiattery and sell
fishaims of an hundred designing advent
urers. Many of her admirers were sincere
IN their devotion, however, for her dispo-
sition aid mental endowments were not one
whit inferior to her physical and pecuniary
attractions. But she never yet had seen
any one who had inspired her with any thing
like deep interest: and she was too sim
cere, and possessed far too much indiyid-
uality of character, TO desire q match for
mere honor or convenience's sake. If she
ever thought OF marriage at all-and il was .
subject that rarely troubled her-her future
ssssband was clearly defined in her inagina-
ts,n as a man whom she could love, respect
AID, perhaps, fear.
fshe. too, had been struck with the sad
ne=s and fine expression of Fairfax's
count:nancc on that oventful night IT the
Marchios;ass'
When tina MAJ was under the influence OF
any unusual ~ thrilling excitement, as he
was during thu evening, his entire manner
was strikingly csasts':us, refined and digni-
fed. He never aPrI'ared to better ad-
vantage than yvhen Soldering pain, mental or
physical
With a woman'a cagerness to solve
mystery, she desired to learn his history.
She was convinced laaS there lras some.
mystery connected with it. Why had he
been so disturbed at NatS 4e's oppearancel
Then, again, he had actua<F all but '.cut'
her-not Intentionally, she e5pposed; thus
making his action the moro sraoying, be-
cause of his Observation-Disclosures
At any rate. whatever the tcaCse. her
thoughts were continually reverting to
Fairfax, and she found herself making the
resolve 10 see More of him, and also to
fathom his relations with the Princess.
But fate. in the shape OF Fairfax's willy
note, had forbidden her proposed conf
Dental little chat with Natalie upon this
eVcntful afternoon.
Only yesterday LYDIA had written
pleasant little note - her ''fiy-away''
friend, Richard, inviting him to dinner the
following evening, and begging him to
bring his friend, Mr.. Fairfax, if he liked;
for whom she also inclOSed u note.
Curslng his fate and using some similar
associative expressions with regard to the
hcadstrong and obstinate Fairfax. whose
ineXplicable conduct was tn Willingly
casting away magnificent an opportunity,
Oxford sat down, grinding his teeth and
with tears of anger in his eyes, wrote d po-
lite reply TO Lydia. regretting that Fairfax
had left for Havre the evening previous
with the intention of sailing this ne.y day
for America and that he himself was
obliged '.to depart III few hours for Paris,
whence he would soon leave either for En-
gland or for Switzerland
This turn of affairs. while IL annoyed
Lydia. only served to make her more deter
mined. and. during her ride TO Dol, she
came to the conclusion that, if she would
gain any Roadway in learning the history of
this young American. she must make her
gay young country1nan the objective point
of her attack.
At Dol, OF course, she found no Aunt
Blanche, and explanation of that lady's
non-appearance. WhereupOn the energetic
girl set about solving this mystery.
Dashing off hasty telegraph message,
she babe her coachman hand it TO the OPP
orator in the depot. That official, the mo-
ment he glanced at Lydia's signature, gave
the coachman note that he declared was
intended for his mistress.
Tearing open the letter. Lydia read:
This is simply rmSe To draw the Lady
Lydia out of the way. Her friend, the Prin-
cess Natalie, has been abducted. Kindly
make known the news 1t Chateau Dor,
urging the uselessness of any search for
her. The inclosed note is for Madame X.''
To explain tho letters having teen in his
possession, the operator quietly handed
Lydia a large envelope, bearing the ad-
dress: Telegraph Operator, r. r Station,
Doll On d slip of paper inclosed therein
was the following request:
'.Plcase hand this envelope to Lady Lydia
BrOadacres, if she comes to the r. Il. Sta
ton. Otherwise, hold it for further direc-
TONS
That was all. but quite enough to en-
tighten Lydia.
Horror-struck and greatly agitated, she
fastened back to che chateau.
(Fairfax once again vas successful. He
had not planned for nothing. Ere bidding
adieu TO the steward OF the ''Namovna'' he
had placed in that reliable servants hand
an envelope, (which you will post from
Havre," he added. 1t bore the postmark
Of that port, as Lydia observed.)
Uncertain whether or not she We're the
victim Of q cruel, practical joke, the poor
girl, in an agony of suspense, kept urging
Der coachinan to speed the horses 10 their
utmost. Although accompanied by her
maid, usually great confidante, she reso-
tutely KEPT the news TO herself nOtwith-
standing the anxious questions of that kind
hearted body. who perceived that her young
mistress was unusually distressed.
Lydia's lips were firmly compressed, her
check was very pale, and determination APP
peared in every lineament Of her face;
while that blue eye. hitherto so tender and
melting, now glttered with & baleful glare
of suppressed anger and distress.
The carriage actually arrived at the
chateau in somewhat less than two hours.
The storm was fast coming on, and the
belated lovers, Dimitri and Catharine, sud
denly aroused TO the fact OF its rapid APP
prOach, had also been making exertions TO
gain the shelter of the chateau ere its
breaking. They reached the gates just
ahead OF lydia.
The latter, subduing her agitation. in Or
binary tones inquired of Catherine where
her mistress was. The maid, in surprise
and sudden alarm, replied that she supposed
the Princess had been at the chateau for
some time. Lydia involuntarily exclaimed:
THANK God trust it Il sou and began
to feel somewhat relieved. Her perturbation
might, after all, be caused by some frightful
blunder. She must keep the entire affair
secret until further developments. Re-
covering her self-control she quietly asked